Photographic cabinet



Aug. 20, 1929. R M 1,725,010

PHOTOGRAPHI C CABINET Filed Sept. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Shem 1 INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1929. v. R. MENON 1,125,010

PHOTOGRAPHI C CABINET Filed Sept. 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V INVENTOR BY W WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES VADAKKATH RAMUNNI MENON, OF SINGAPORE, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CABINET.

Application filed September 29,1927. Serial No. 222,869.

This invention relates to an adjustable cabinet for photographic purposes such as developing, printing, enlar ing, reducing, retouching and other operations adapted to be erformed in daylight from outside the cabinet, thereby permitting an operator to carry on the work outside a dark room with abundance of fresh air and with convenience and comfort. The apparatus is an improvement on a structure disclosed in an application filed by me, Serial Number 494,240, filed August 22, 1921, and allowed May 22, 1925, for a cabinet of the same general character as the present application with several modifications in specific design. The object of the design is to produce a photographic cabinet capable of conversion into a writing desk and of eflicient use for daylight manipulation of focussing, developing and com- 0 pleting photographic films,

A further object is to produce a device of such character capable of use for children of difi'erent sizes. The several features of the invention will be more fully hereinafter described and will be definitely indicated in the claims appended to this specification.

In the accom anyin drawings I have illustrated a pref rred orm of the invention, it being understood that no limitations to the precise structural details disclosed is neces sary, but changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front View;

Fig. 2 is an end view;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a sleeve attachment for inserting the arms into the cabinet for performing the various processes;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a panel for blockin openings;

Fig. is a sectional detail showing the tongue and oove connection of the door to make a lig t-tight fit;

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of film holder; and

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of a quick focussing device.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, 1, 1, 1", 1, indicate posts of which four are used forming spaced uprights or legs at each side of the base. Each upright is a plate or 5 provided with a longitudinal slot with adjacent locking recesses 4 for two longitudinal rods 5, 5 fixed in the bottom of the body of the cabinet 6, the slotted and notched structure permit-ting the body of the cabinet to be supported at variable elevations, the rods 5, 5 passing through flanges 6, 6" at the bottom of the cabinet and the two vertical slots 3 in the uprights. This construction permits vertical adjustment of the body of the cabinet adapting it to different ages and sizes of scholars and operators. The slot and notch construction of the uprights permits the transverse bars connected with the body of the cabinet to be adjusted vertically 1n the slot and brought to rest in a stable position in any desired notch, a pair of wing nuts 8, 8, permitting the rod to be clamped tightagainst the faces of the uprights. The top of the cabinet is provided with a panel 9 in which is mounted an inclined eye-piece 10 below which is secured in fixed guides on the underside of the panel as indicated at 11, a small pane of ruby glass 12 to render the light of a non-actinic character to be admitted to the box from the top in ordinary daylight or for inspection of development and management of the film while being loaded for exposure or development. The front of the cabinet has a pivoted lid 13 capable of swinging up to form an extension of the top 9 and pivotal props 14 mounted on the lid permit the latter to be supported in notches or other socketing means in the sides of the cabinet; thus the swinging lid forms a table upon which photographic mounting, treating or other operations on the films may be conducted. The lower edge as well as the other sides of the lid 13 is provided with a groove and tongue connection to afford a light-tight joint. symmetrically placed in the hinged lid are formed a pair of circular openings 1515, spaced apart a suflicient distance to form openings convenient to the arms of an operator. Detachably secured in the back of the lid is a sheet metal ring 16 adapted to be clamped in position by pivoted retainers on the back of the lid. The ring is made sectional, the outer portion being firmly attached to a light-proof sleeve of black muslin or the like, the outer edge of which carries an elastic band in hemmed edge. Two of these light-tight sleeves one for either arm of an operator are provided in the lid and the arms being thrust through permit manipulation of a film within the cabinet, or manipulation of a developing tray resting therein.

On the right hand side of the cabinet is mounted a square extensible tube 23 having a slot 24 to receive the negative holder 34, Fig. 8 behind which is mounted on a bracket a camera, 21. A film holder or screen lt) is in the field of the camera and its longitudinal adjustment is effected by a screw 26 mounted transversely of the box or cabinet and provided with a removable handle 25.

'Adjustment of the screen may be controlled by a spring-pressed sectional nut 27 normally pressed into engagement with the thread of the screw 26 and capable of release by lifting it out of engagement with screw thereby permitting' the screen to be rapidly focussed by a rapid hand thrust by a pupil or an operator. A removable door 33 provides a reflecting surface when placed at an angle of 45 by a pin and socket joint, see Figure 4 diverting daylight through the lens and negative to form an image on the screen in the cabinet or may be-lowered to support a suitable artificial light.

The face of the reflector need not necessarily be a mirror but may be covered with a white fabric which will serve to reflect a diffused light. The cabinet is provided with a narrow shelf to retain bottles containing a developer hypo, and water and other materials for use in manipulating a film. A tray 30 is for receiving thewaste liquids after developing and other operations and is provided with a drain opening at one corner and removable bent pipe inserted over this to drain off the waste and to prevent white light getting into the cabinet.

In the side of the cabinet facing the screen is an opening 34 and in this opening the image is viewed; The eyepiece 10 is transferred to this opening with similar guides and means for normally rendering the opening light-tight except when used in focussing, as by an opaque slide.

After having roughly adjusted the screen 19 by releasing the nut 27 and shutting the lid 18, the operator throws a focussing cloth over his head .and viewing the image through the opening 34: bringing it to a sharp focus by turning the handle 25. The lens and the opening 3% are then shut and reflector adjusted at the right angle. Inserting the to the enlarging device, a plurality of legs hands through the sleeve attachments, films or photographic papersare mounted on the screen and exposures are made.

The developing dish may have developer and hypo successively applied and rocked and the development observed in the eyepiece 10 the waste being poured in the dish 30 and drained -ofi'.- All the openings are provided with sliding light-tight windows for the safe working of the sensitive films. The camera may in some cases be placed outside the cabinet.

As indicated in the drawings the lid'which H permits conversion of the cabinet to work ofmounting in using .it as'a desk, "the hinge permits it to'be swung over an arc to permit being supported at an angle for .use as an easel for retouching negative supported in guides across one'or both thesleeve' holes,

'While I have herein described a specific construction for carrying out :the results-obtained by it, I desire to have it understood that I may make changes in the construction and combination and arrangement of the several parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by 'Le'tters Patent is 1. In a photographic apparatus, 'a-cabinet constituting a dark chamber and having :an opening in the front thereof, a' closure hinged at the upper edge of the opening, means for vsupporting the closure to form an extension for the top of the cabinet, said closure having sleeve entrance openings,and shutters for engaging the inner portion of the closure and including portions passing into'the openings, to the outer edges thereof. g

2. In a photographic apparatus, a cabinet providing a dark chamber and desk, an enlarging device within the chamber and se- 7 cured to one wall thereof, means constituting a desk-top extension, and providing access for mounting the cabinet at the corner portions thereof, and devices for adjusting the elevation of the cabinet'with reference to'the legs, and independently at the respective corners. V

In testimony whereof I affixmy. signature.

VADAKKATH RAMUNN-i Manon. 

